Adjustable counterbalance for band wheels



Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,355

M. J. MILZ ADJUSTABLE COUNTERBALANCE FOR'BAND WHEELS Filed Dec. 14, 1925 MAX I MLZ,

Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX J'- MIIIZ, OF TAJST, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MIDWAY IRON WORKS, IN C., Oil 'IAFT, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE COUNTEBIBALANCE FOR BAND WHEELS.

Application filed December 14, 1925. Serial No. 75,291.

My invention relates to well equipment and particularly to a band wheel having a novel form of counterbalance. In well equipment and especially in oil well equipment, a band wheel is secured on a rotatable shaft which carries a walking beam crank. The walking beam crank is connected to a pitman which is attached to the walking beam -which operates the pump plunger.

It is common practice to counterbalance the weight placed on the walking beam by the pump plunger, so as to minimize the power consumption, b securing a weight either to the walking eam or to the band wheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a band wheel having a counterbalance device possessing novel features which will be explained hereinafter.

The weight placed on the walking beam by the pump plunger varies with the depth of the well, and each well must have a certain weight of counterbalance according to its depth.

It is an object of this invention to provide a band wheel having a counterbalance device, the counterweight of which may be adjusted radially of the band wheel so that the effective weight may be adjusted to suit the re uirements.

he rim of the band wheel is adapted to have engagement with a sand reel whereby the sand reel is rotated. The sand reel has a cable wound thereon which is used during different operations at the well, such as handling the pump rods. When the sand reel is operated, the walking beam is not operated and the counterbalance must ordinarily be removed from the band wheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a band wheel having a counterbalance in which the weight may be moved to the center of the wheel without detaching it from the wheel so that there is no eccentric weight placed thereby on the band wheel.

It is a still further object of this invention toprovide a wooden'band wheel having a counterbalance device secured thereto which is so constructed as to serve as a binder for the band wheel and to prevent the counterwei ht thereof from doing any damage to theband wheel; and also to prevent the band wheel from being spread apart.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which I illustrate a preferred form of my invention,

Fig. is a diagrammatic view illustrating the utihty of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view showing a band wheel having a counterbalance device secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, 11 denotes a derrick havm a band wheel 12 positioned at one side t ereof. The band wheel 12 is secured on a rotatable shaft 13 to which a walking beam crank 14, indicated by dotted lines, is secured. The walking beam crank 14 is secured to a pitman 15 which is attached to the outer end of a walking beam 16. The walklng beam 16 is adapted to oscillate on the upper end of a Samson post 17. The rim 18 of the band wheel 12 is adapted to engage and drive a sand reel 20 which is supported adjacent thereto.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, details of the band wheel of my invention will be explained. The band wheel 12 in the drawing is shown as made from wood and is of any standard design. Extending inside the rim 18 are cross members 22 which form a web or spoke portion of the band wheel. At the center of the band wheel 12 and secured to the cross members 22- are hub plates 24 through which the shaft 13 extends. The hub plates 24 are secured on each side of the cross members 22 and are both bolted thereto by bolts 25. Secured to the cross members 22 on the front face thereof and at opposite sides of one of the hub plates 24 are inner brackets 27. The inner brackets .27 have feet 28 through which bolts 29 extend for securing them to the cross members 22. Extending between the feet 28 is a cross bar 30 and extending outward from the cross bar 30 are legs 32. To the outer ends of the legs 32 rails 33 are secured by bolts 34.

Outer brackets 37 are secured to the rim 18 by bolts 38 and the rails 33 are secured to the outer brackets 37 by bolts 40. A5

shown clearly in Fig. 2, the rails..33 extend entirely across the front face of the band wheel and are spaced parallel to each other. Also the rails are placed symmetrically on each side of the shaft 13 of the band wheel 12.

Carried by the rails 33 is a counterweight 42. This counterweight 42 has. longitudinal grooves 43 formed in the sides thereof which are adapted to receive the inner edges of the rails 33 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The counterweight 42 is clamped on the rails 33 in a desired radial position by means of clamp plates 45. These clamp plates 45 rest in pockets 46 which are formed adjacent to the grooves 43 so that the outer edges of the clamp plates 45 extend so that they may engage the rails 33. The clamp plates 45 are clamped against the rails 33 y the clamp bolts 4t which extend thro h the counterweight 42 and through the clamp plates 45. As shown in Fig. 2, the counterweight 42 is provided with a central slot 48. This slot 48 is provided so that the counterweight 42 may be moved into concentricity with respect to the shaft 13 of the band wheel 12. As shown by dotted lines 49 of Fig. 2, when the counterweight 42 is moved into innermost position the shaft 13 extends through the central slot 48. The counterweight 42 may be clamped in any radial position between that shown by dotted lines 49 in Fig. 2 and between that shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

As previously mentioned, during the pumping of a well it is desirable as a means of reducing power consumption to counterbalance the weight placed on the walking beam by the pump plunger. In my invention the weight of the plunger on the walking beam 16 is counterbalanced by the counterweight 42. By reason of the radial adjustability of the counterweight 42, this weight may be moved into the proper position to obtain the proper effective weight to counterbalance the weight of the plunger on the walking beam 16. It is quite obvic us that as the counterweight 42 is moved away from the center of the hand wheel 12, the edective weight thereof is increased. Because of the adjustability of the counterweight 42 a standard band wheel of my invention may be a part of every well equipment, it being necessary only to adjust the position of the counterweight 42 when pumping is commenced.

When the pump or the pump rods are to be pulled, the walking beam 15 is disconnected from the band wheel 12 and the sand reel 20 is employed to handle the pump rods. At this time no counterbalance is needed and it is desirable to remove any counterbalancing from the band wheel 12. In my invention this is accomplished by loosening the clamp plates 45 and sliding the counterweight 42 along the rails into concentric position, as indicated by the dotted lines 49 of Fig. 2. When in this position the band wheel 12 and serve :as a binding means for securing the different parts of the band wheel rigidly together, to make a more rigid band wheel and prevent spreading of the parts. I

From the foregoing description it is quite obvious that my invention is very valuable for the reasons already pointed out. The construction thereof is comparatively simple'and it is easy'to produce, making the cost of production quite low. The invention resides broadly in the rails 33 and brackets 27 and '37 which comprise the weight supporting means, the counterweight 42 and the clamp plates 45 which comprise the securing means of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: a wheel having a rim and a web portion; a shaft for rotatably supporting said wheel; reinforcing means for said wheel, said means comprising a diametrically disposed pair of parallel rails respectively positioned on opposite sides of said shaft and secured at opposite ends to the wheel rim, and intermediate brackets se cured to and reinforcing said web portion and connected to said rails to prevent spreading thereof; a counter-weight mounted to slide on said rails; and means for clamping said weight to said rails in selective positions.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 which each of said intermediate brackets entends transversely to said rails and is connected to both rails to relieve said web por-= tion of strains tending to spread the rails.

3. Tn combination: a wheel; a shaft for rotatably supporting said wheel; weight supporting means carried by said wheel and extending radially from the center thereof, said means comprising a pair of parallel '75 The rails 33 are extended entirely acrossrails and means for securing said rails a said wheel; a counter-weight slidable on said rails and provided with a slot so that it may be moved into a position concentric with said shaft; and means for securing said weight in selective positions on said rails.

4. in combination: a wheel; a shaft for rotatably supporting said wheel; weight supporting means carried by said wheel and extending radially from the center thereof, said means comprising a pair of parallel rails and means for securin saidrails to said wheel; a counter-weight having grooves tea 7 in which said rails engage, said weight being slidable to selective ositions along sai rails; clamp plates resting in pockets formed in said counter-weight; and means for clamping said clamp plates a ainst said rails to retain said weight in a se ected position. 5. In combination: a wheel; a shaft for rotatably supporting said wheel; weight supporting means carried by said wheel and extending radially from the center thereof, said means comprising a pair of parallel rails and means for securing said rails to said wheel; a counter-weight having grooves in which said rails engage, said weight being slidable to selective positions along sai rails; clamp plates carried by said counterweight; and means for clamping said clamp plates against said rails to retain said weight m a selected position.

6. In combination: a wheel; -a rotatable shaft on which said wheel is secured; weight sup rting means extending radially across sai whee and a counter-weight adjustably mounted on said wei ht supporting means said counter-weight aving a slot forme therein to permit it to be moved into a. position concentric with said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Taft, California, this 7th day of December, 1925.

MAX J. MILZ. 

